Antonio Conte has heavily linked with the Manchester United job last year when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was rumoured to be facing the sack early in the season.
A disastrous start to the season had put Solskjaer’s job at risk but the Norwegian weathered the early storm but was eventually let go at the end of November.
Conte had already taken up a position at Tottenham Hotspur by that time, with United opting against making a move for the former Juventus and Chelsea man in October.
It’s now being reported that Manchester United gauged Cristiano Ronaldo’s interest in Conte in October, with the Portuguese superstar vetoing the idea to appoint Conte.
That’s according to the Manchester Evening News, who add that although the club were ‘not keen’ on hiring Conte, Ronaldo’s own reservations about the 52-year-old were fed back to the club.
Read more: Man Utd stars furious with the club over Paul Pogba contract offer
It’s been a disastrous season for United but there is hope that it could end on a positive note, with news breaking earlier this week that a verbal agreement has been reached with Ajax coach Erik ten Hag over the vacant manager’s job.
As per the report from the MEN, the first-team players at the club have not been consulted over their opinion on Ten Hag.
SN’s verdict…
It’s fair to say that the players at Manchester United have no right to have any reservations about who the club may or may not appoint. They have been underperforming for several years now and although it was probably the right decision to not appoint Conte, it’s easy to see why the players wouldn’t want it to happen.
Conte doesn’t like slackers and there are way too many of them at United. They wouldn’t have had an easy ride under the Italian and hopefully they won’t either under Ten Hag.
The club made the correct call to not consult the players over Ten Hag – after all, there’s a high chance many of them might not even be at the club next year.
If rumours are to be believed, Ten Hag will sign for at least three years and you’d like to think, by then, the squad will have been almost completely overhauled.
‘Conte probably not the right decision’.. are you mad??